HALT—An Organization of Americans for Legal Reform Reform is set to testify before the Illinois Supreme Court's Rules Committee next Monday, offering support of a proposal that stands to increase the state's jurisdictional dollar limit on small claims. Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee Proposal 04-08 would lift the state's ceiling on small claims from $5,000 to $7,500, which would leave far fewer people stuck outside the justice system.

"Many Illinois residents are currently stranded in a legal no-man's land because their routine legal problems have a dollar value above the state's ceiling on small claims, yet they cannot afford to hire an attorney for such a simple matter," stated HALT Senior Counsel Tom Gordon. "These people are effectively shut out of the legal system."

Small claims courts, which use simplified procedures and require plain language, have tremendous promise as a means of empowering ordinary people to take charge of their own routine legal needs. HALT's Small Claims Reform Project advocates for states across the nation to raise their jurisdictional limits to $20,000. Realizing that the $20,000 mark is an ambitious goal, HALT views the Illinois proposal as a positive step. In written comments, HALT urged the Court to consider a higher, even less restrictive limit than $7,500.

"This proposal will bring Illinois in line with the rest of the country by allowing many of its small claims courts to handle a wider range of common disputes," says Gordon.

During Monday's testimony, Gordon will also outline further reform needed to ensure full access to the Illinois small claims courts: providing assistance with collecting judgments; authorizing small claims judges to issue court orders; expanding small claims dispute resolution programs; and making small claims courts user-friendly by adding additional hours of court operation and simplifying procedures.

The Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee will hold a public hearing on January 24, 2005 at 10 a.m. to consider the proposal to increase the state's jurisdictional limit on small claims. The meeting will be held at 160 N. LaSalle St., Room C-500, Chicago, IL.

Founded in 1978, HALT—An Organization of Americans for Legal Reform is a nonpartisan, nonprofit public interest organization. HALT pursues an ambitious education and advocacy program that challenges the legal establishment to improve access and accountability and reduce costs in the civil justice system. Please visit www.halt.org for more information.

Visit www.halt.org/reform_projects/small_claims to access HALT's written comments.